Is hiring a doula worthwhile?

Question

I struggled with my first birth.  It took me two days to have my son, and the risks came close to C-section.  This time, I want to have more control over the experience, and most specifically, how I manage the pain to stay focused on the delivery.  I have spoken to some doulas already, but I want to hear from mothers about their specific experiences.  Was it worth the price, or what price do you think is fair for their services?  Did they get in the way?  How did having a doula affect the labor process?  Would you recommend getting a doula after having the experience?

Answer

So I had a traumatic first birth that ended in a c section. I was determined to have a vbac for my second and got a doula to make sure I was supported and to set myself up for success. I wanted to labor at home as long as possible because I think I went in too early. But I waited too long and by time I called her, it was time to go to the hospital. I met her at the hospital and 15 minutes later my baby was born. I will say for the short time we were together, she was comforting. But it also felt like a lot of money down the drain. Obviously I could have called her sooner, but I was totally able to handle it on my own. 
I guess what I’m trying to say is that just because you had a hard first labor does not mean you’ll have a repeat. But, if it’s not a financial strain, I can also see how having a doula can be a good idea. Sorry, that’s probably not helpful! But that was my experience. I’m also undecided about whether to get one for my third birth.

Answer

For me it was absolutely worth the money, I was in labor for 2.5 days, it was exhausting & there were tons of decisions to make that in the moment I don’t think I would have remembered all of our original birth plan hopes, she was a great advocate for me w/ all the nurses & doctors I ended up seeing, she made me feel confident in the decisions we eventually made, she kept me calm & helped to give my husband breaks so he could continue to be my main support, she also took pictures & videos in the operating room when I ended up w/ a csection after 4.5 hours of pushing. She also did 2 home visits afterwards which I desperately needed as I was hot hormonal mess recovering from surgery w/ a pretty fussy baby & just wanted a non family member to cry/vent to. I never felt like she was in the way or was taking anything over or pushing any agenda on me, she just supported me & my husband in the exact way we needed.

Answer

I was required to have a doula at my first homebirth. She was also my hypnobirthing instructor. She really didn't do much for me, except make eggs and toast after the birth. I do think the hypnobirthing was worth it though. It allowed me to fall asleep between contractions while I was in transition! My husband was very supportive though and stayed with me and basically just had a hand on me the entire time.

Answer

My 2nd birth was a lot easier than my 1st. If I didn't have a supportive husband, I would have gotten one though. I've had some really amazing nurses, some not so amazing ones, and some who were just too swamped with patients. So if I had a situation where my husband couldn't be there or he's just not good at this stuff, I would think it's worth it. Especially if they help you post partum, too (I've heard some do, some don't)